Press Release Archive

Argentia Southside Industrial Park Opening
Press Release - July 7, 1999

On behalf of the Board of Directors and senior staff of the Argentia Management Authority, otherwise known as the AMA, it is with great optimism and pleasure that I officially launch the opening of a new industrial park for Argentia - an industrial park intended to serve not only Newfoundland, but the national and international business communities.

The park is known as the "Argentia Southside Industrial Park". This fully-serviced 40 lot industrial park is the first phase of three phases planned for Argentia. It offers more than 500,000 square feet of building space that is ideally suited to manufacturing and warehousing operations - in fact, almost any type of operation.

On May 11th, the AMA with our major partner - Public Works and Government Services Canada completed a land transfer agreement for the former U.S. Naval Facility lands known as the Southside, Backlands area and Isaac's Head. The agreement for the Southside land transfer enabled the AMA to proceed with the development of the Industrial Park.

The AMA has waited for more than four years for opportunity to become a reality. Let me tell you how significant the land transfer and the subsequent industrial park development is for the AMA.

Ladies and gentlemen, Argentia is now truly opened for business.

We now have the required infrastructure to support and build on our excellent port facilities. Argentia has one of the best ports in eastern Canada and is the only deep water port in Newfoundland that is ice-free year round that also has an international shipping company operating out that port. Eimskip operates out of Argentia year round and travels down the Eastern seaboard of the United States, Iceland and Western Europe and connects through major ports with other shipping companies which travel around the world. With the combination of our industrial park and our excellent port facilities, Argentia is strategically positioned to take advantage of import and export opportunities utilizing marine shipping.

long term lease period can now be offered to businesses. Originally the maximum lease that could be offered to a business was five years thus precluding any large personal or corporate investment in Argentia. The AMA will be able to offer corporate investment in Argentia. The AMA will be able to offer attractive long-term lease terms, which in the market are typically 20 years.

The lease process is now streamlined. From now on businesses securing a lease will be dealing only with the AMA.

We can now sell buildings and land - an option not open to us before.

The AMA can now commence with its development plan for the industrial park, including phases two and three.

More importantly, we at the AMA can now commence to successfully diversify the economy of the Argentia region.
Prior to the land transfer, we are the AMA could do none of these things.

The AMA has not been able to rest on its laurels and assume companies will flock to Argentia, especially since there are many outstanding items surrounding the Voisey's Bay processing facility. However, we remain optimistic that Voisey's Bay Nickel Company will establish operations on the Northside of Argentia sooner rather than later.

The AMA is committed to the economic diversification of Argentia. In that regard the AMA is also targeting marketing efforts towards light to medium scale manufacturing operations, and positioning itself as a landmark site for natural gas pipeline development, support services to offshore activities, and other operations that require strong port and transportation infrastructure as well as any other business opportunities that make good business sense in Argentia.

Ladies and gentlemen, Argentia is strategically positioned to be the "Gateway to the World" because of its prime location between the United States and Europe, two of the most affluent markets in the world. Why do you think Argentia was chosen by the United Stated during World War II as a site to build a military base - it was mainly because of its strategic location.

Decision makers from Voisey's Bay Nickel Company also recognized Argentia's ideal traits when they selected Argentia as the preferred location to build a processing operation.

Last Saturday the Industrial Park was launched to the Placentia Bay community during Argentia Day celebrations with four to five hundred people in attendance. We are very grateful to our region for their support and understanding of the AMA. We also recognize that we would not be here today if it were not for our major partners Public Works and Government Services Canada and ACOA. We also wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Municipal Governments of Placentia, Fox Harbour, Ship Harbour, and Point Verde, the local business operators, the Development Association, the Argentia Chamber of Commerce, the Festival of Flags, other government agencies and all the volunteers of the region.

At this point, I want to thank Mayor Hogan, his councillors and senior staff for their assistance, cooperation, and guidance in planning the Park with the AMA General Manager, Ken Browne, and our Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Brewer, so that it meets all Municipal laws and regulations, zoning bylaws and other requirements of the Town.

As we take another great step in the redevelopment of Argentia, it is with great pride and enthusiasm that we move forward into the millennium. Argentia's doors are wide open ... we are an ideal and cost competitive location ... and we are ready for your business.

For further information contact:
Harvey Mercer
227-2554